Cushion for shoe heels



Aug. 13, 1929 N HAAG 31,724,349

CUSHION FOR SHOE HEELS Fil ed Dec. 27, 1927 Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

UNITED STATES- EDWARD NIHA-AG, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CUSHION FOR SHOE HEELS.

Application filed December-27, 1927. Serial No. 242,887.

The present invention relates to cushions for shoe heels especially of a pneumatic type, either for ladies or mens shoes, and a purpose of the invention is to permit thewearer to be relieved of the jar in walking. The majority of persons tend to place the foot heel first and, if walking fast, there is considerable jar transmitted to the back of the head, and if the surface on which the person is walking is rough or irregular, the jar is greater. This ar is transmitted to the 7 heel bone and the principal purpose is to cushion the heel bone and relieve the jar.

Another purpose is to provide a pneumatic type of cushion, whereby the cushioning action or resiliency is the result of the provision of an exterior rubber heel lift and an upper rubber insert, constituting an interior rubber wall of the shoe, with a pneumatic chamber between the rubber wall insert and the exterior rubber heel lift, the opposed walls of the pneumatic chamber being compressed by the heel of the wearer, and hence 7 providing a cushioning. action for the heel bone.

Another purpose is to provide an insert in the interior of the shoe carrying the inner rubber wall, which may be constructed of spongy resilient rubber, which engages with and extends into the heel, the insertion" being of an area acting as an insole to the heel of the shoe, with the surface'which is engaged by the heel of the wearer very slightly convexed, so that when the heel of the wearer presses thereon it will cause an action on the spongy or resilient wall in the interior 1 rubber.

Still another purpose is to provide acushioning or resilient heel, wherein the resili- 40 'ency is transmitted from the outer or bottom surface of the heel, through the heel to the interior of the shoe and to the heel bone, in

conjunction with means forminga part of,

the interior rubber wall corresponding with 4-5 the heel of the shoe to retain the insertion in proper position and prevent it from being easily removed.

A still further purpose is to provide, in a cushioning or resilient heel, a suctioning connection between the inner rubber wall and the exterior rubber wall, which will act to V prevent the breaking of the pneumatic cushion between the two walls. In other words it is the aim to insure adherence between the two rubber walls and thereby preventing rupturing of the pneumatic or cushioning resiliency, which transmits from the exterior rubber through the interior rubber wall.

It 'is to be understood that the particulars herein given are in no way limitative, and that While still keeping within the scope of the invention, any desired modification of details and proportions may be made in the construction of the appliance according to circumstances.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts to be hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1is a sectional view through the heel portion of a shoe, showing the application of the improved cushioning heel.

Figure 2is a detailed perspective view of the exterior rubber heel or lift- Figure 3.is a detailed pers ective view of the inner rubber. wall, s owing the spongy or resilient portion, which operaitigely connects with the exterior rubber heel Figure 41-is a longitudinal sectional view through the heel portion of a shoe showing a modified construction of cushioning heel;

Referring to the drawings, 1 identifies the arch portion of the sole of a shoe 2, and 3 is the usual heel, comprising the lift 4. The arch portion 1 of the shoe extends back under the heel and constitutes another lift 5. Said heel lifts 4 and 5 have openings 6, and 7 is a rubber insert, which over-lies the openings 6 and have portions projecting beyond the margin of the opening. The portion forwardly of the, shoe extends a substantial distance adjacent the shank 1 of the shoe. This insert is of solid rubber, though resilient enough as to permit it to countersink when pressure of the heel bone is applied to thecoiivex surface 8 of the insert.

However, this insert has a projecting enlargement 9 which passes through the open ings 6 and engages in an annular recess 10 of the exterior rubber heel lift 11. This recess 10 is of annular formation, and there is a substantial amount of suction engagement between the wall of the recess 10 and the walls of the openings 6, suchas will prevent too easy removal'of the insert. This enlargement 9 is constructed of relatively spongy or resilient rubber, not. too soft to prevent it from standing up when pressure is relieved, but resilient enough to permit the wall of the insert to depress, so that the depressing action may compress the air in the pneumatic chamber 12 in the rubber heel lift 11, so as to afford a cushion for the heel bone of the wearer.

The wall of the exterior rubber heel lift at a point adjacent the pneumatic chamber 12 maybe of such thickness that when depressed, it will cooperate with the pneumatic chamber and the enlargement 9, in order to create a substantial cushion for the heel bone and thence relieve the jar on the back of the head of the wearer.

The exterior rubber heel lift ll is secured on the shoe by the usual fasteners 13, which are clinched in the usual manner with their heads countersunk in the exterior rubber heel lift, with a washer 14 engaged around the fastener and under its head.

Referring to Figure 4; it will be noted that.

a modified construction is disclosed wherein the pneumatlc chamber or cushion is eliminated. However it is 'a mere question inconstruction; a slight depression in the exterior rubber heel lift, as indicated by the dot and dash lines 15, may provide for a pneumatic cushion.

Hitherto where rubber heels or heel lifts have been applied to shoes there has intervened between said heels and thev heel of the human foot a layer of leather or other hard substance, such as an insole or wholesole, tending to lessen the resiliency in the rubber heel or heel lift. By this invention, for the first time,'it is purposed to afford a cushion of rubber or other pliable substance from the heel and heel bone of the wearer straight through to the treading surface. The result of this is to greatly increase the amount of resiliency. In effect, the wearer of a shoe heel of leather or rubber so pre-v pared is conscious of the added ease thus afforded; and the wearer, for the first time, avoids the hard contact with a sole, inner sole, heel lift or other intervening substance between the treading surface and the heel bone.

The idea of this invention maybe a-ccomplished by working from the inside'of the shoe as indicated in the drawing, by

adding a core of crepe or s ongy rubber or resilient material on top 0 rubber heels as ordinarily constructed, or a new rubber heel especially devised; or it can be done by a combination of the inside and outside rubber 1. In a cushioning or resilient heel for shoes, the combination with a shoe heel hav removal, the inner surface of the insert being slightly convexed in order that when the heel of the wearer applies pressure thereon, the wall of the insert and the resilient wall may compress. the air in the pneumatic chamber.

2. In a cushion or resilient heel for shoes, the combination with a shoe heel provided with a substantial opening formedtherein, of an exterior rubber heel lift fastened to the shoe, a rubber insert having a resilient enlargement engaging through the opening and penetrating into the rubber heel lift, the surface of the resilient enlargement where it engages throu h the opening being shaped to retain t e insert in place against too easy removal, the opposed walls of the insert'and the rubber heel lift whereby the heel bone of the wearer may be resiliently supported on the heel lift'and the insert.

3. In a cushioning or resilient heel for shoes, the combination with a shoe heel havasses through the opening shaped ing a substantial opening formed therein,

of an exterior rubber'heel lift fastened to the shoe over said opening, a rubber insert engaged with the inner surface of the interior of the heel of'the shoe and provided with a soft resilient enlargement engaging vthrough the opening and penetrating into the rubber heel lift, the upper surface of the insert being convexed, the side surface of the soft resilient enlargement being divergent to retain the insert in place against too easy removal, said exterior rubber heel lift having an inner countersink into which the resilient enlargement proportionately extends, with a space between the bottom of the countersink and the resilient enlargement toconstitute a pneumatic chamber 'between the insert and the exterior heel lift, whereby the heel bone of the wearer may be resiliently supported on the heel lift and the insert.'

In testimony whereof he aflixes his signature. f v

EDWARD NQHAAG. 

